International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 865-873, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
U Kramer, H Behrendt, R Dolgner, U Ranft, J Ring, H Willer and HW Schlipkoter
BACKGROUND: East-West comparison studies in Europe find higher prevalences
of infectious airway diseases and lower prevalences of allergies in eastern
areas. Pollution from sulphur dioxide (SO2) or total suspended particles
(TSP) are discussed as causes of this difference. METHODS: In four
differently polluted areas of East Germany where pollution decreased
dramatically between 1989 and 1995 cross- sectional studies in about
7-year-old children were repeated every year between 1991 and 1995. In two
differently polluted areas of West Germany studies with the same design
were done in 1991 and 1994. In all, 19090 children participated in the
study. Thirteen different questions about airway diseases and allergies
were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding.
RESULTS: With the exception of pneumonia, all infectious airway diseases
and irritations of the airways show a steeper temporal decrease in East
than in West Germany or are positively associated with either SO2 or TSP in
East Germany. For allergies and related symptoms no differences in time
trends could be detected or no association with SO2 or TSP could be seen in
East Germany. CONCLUSION: Most airway diseases were more frequent in East
than in West Germany in 1991 and were associated with SO2 or TSP. The
decrease in these pollutants between 1991 and 1995 has already had a
favourable effect. An effect of SO2 or TSP pollution on allergies and
related symptoms could not be detected. This pollution does not protect
against the development of allergies.
ARTICLES
Airway diseases and allergies in East and West German children during the first 5 years after reunification: time trends and the impact of sulphur dioxide and total suspended particles
Medical Institute of Environmental Hygiene, Dusseldorf Germany.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C J Apfelbacher, J Cairns, T Bruckner, M Mohrenschlager, H Behrendt, J Ring, and U Kramer Prevalence of overweight and obesity in East and West German children in the decade after reunification: population-based series of cross-sectional studies J. Epidemiol. Community Health, February 1, 2008; 62(2): 125 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Heinrich Nonallergic respiratory morbidity improved along with a decline of traditional air pollution levels: a review Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2003; 21(40_suppl): 64S - 69s. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Heinrich, B. Hoelscher, C. Frye, I. Meyer, M. Wjst, and H-E. Wichmann Trends in prevalence of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization in children in Eastern Germany Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2002; 19(6): 1040 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Frye, J. Heinrich, M. Wjst, and H-E. Wichmann Increasing prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in three selected areas in East Germany Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2001; 18(3): 451 - 458. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Shima and M. Adachi Effect of outdoor and indoor nitrogen dioxide on respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2000; 29(5): 862 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|